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NUTRITION AND ITS IMPORTANCE
IN CANCER THERAPY:
PART TWO
Article by herbalist Dave
Hawkins, MH, CNC
As I stated in my last article
dealing with cancer and nutrition, I laid
out the groundwork about the importance of
diet, how it relates to body systems, and
what the individual can do to aid the healing
process when dealing with cancer. Today's
article will focus on more specific nutrients that
appear in the research and literature. It is important
to consult with your healthcare professional when
seeking these types of therapies and protocols.
Let’s begin
with the basics. The three main
areas to be addressed are:
1) Preventing
malnutrition
2) bolstering the immune
functions
3) the use of specific
nutrients as biological response modifiers
Due to the fact that
cancer is a serious wasting disease,
it is estimated that approximately 40% of all
cancer patients die of malnutrition.
Nutritional support is not the cure-all, but it
does prevent malnourishment. According
to Donald Yance Jr., CNMH,
a protein shake is recommended once or twice a
day, fortified with soy protein, combined
with fresh live bacteria yogurt, and the addition of a
powdered multivitamin and mineral powder.
Many other
nutrients can be added to this shake, like
flax oil, enzymes, liquid herbals, and specific
powdered vitamins. The shake is a great way to
get high-level nutrients without having to
take a lot of capsules or tablets. Some people prefer
to take vitamin tablets, which are fine, but usually
the standard OTC multivitamin does not contain
enough of the vital nutrients to do much good.
It is recommended to find one that is higher
in potencies and from natural sources.
The multivitamin is the
first of the foundation nutrients.
Next would be an antioxidant formula. The
antioxidants include beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin
E, zinc, selenium, and possibly a combination of other
plant-based nutrients.
Next would be the
inclusion of an essential fatty acid supplement either
in capsule form or liquid, which can be added
to a shake. This
covers a lot of nutrients and works in our
first step to resolve potential
deficiencies and help prevent malnutrition.
Some specific
fat-soluble vitamins to consider
using at higher doses than found in the
multiple would include:
·
Beta carotene from
the blue green algae source,
duneliela Salina. This has been shown to
enhance immune proliferation, enhance
macrophages (a specialized white cell that consumes
cancer cells), and to activate natural killer cells. It
is a potent antioxidant and can be used for the
treatment and prevention of cancer.
·
Vitamin E. The mixed
tocopherols are used.
Make sure it is the d-alpha form not
the synthetic dl-alpha. This is used as an
anti-oxidant and to stimulate the immune functions.
It has shown in research to have some
anti-tumor activity and protects the body
from damage due to radiation and chemotherapy.
· CoEnzyme
Q10. The soft gel is preferred due to
better absorption. This helps to
oxygenate the blood and
prevent cancer cells anaerobic activity. It
also protects the heart muscle from damage due to the
use of some chemotherapy agents.
·
Vitamin
C has shown to improve survival time, works
with the NK cells to provide material for the
production of interferons
and interleukins (the substance secreted to kill cancer
cells) and to inhibit the ability of cancer
cells to spread.
·
B-complex vitamins
have been shown to improve appetite,
energy and to aid with vitamin C. Nutritional
yeast is a powder that can be added on
salads, soups, popcorn and in the shake.
·
EFA's
(Essential Fatty Acids). In the form of
fish oil (max EPA), flax oil, borage, and black current
seed oil. They reduce inflammation, aid immune
response, and restore normal cell activity.
The following minerals
need to be addressed also:
·
Potassium and magnesium.
These are crucial for cancer recovery.
Magnesium helps to stabilize cell
membranes and elevates immune
activity. Potassium is critical for
cellular permeability (the ability for fluids to pass
back and forth).
·
Zinc
picolinate is better absorbed and
works as an antioxidant, and
boosts immune functions
·
Selenium is used in
the form called seleno-methionine
due to better absorption. Selenium helps in a cancer
profile due to its ability to bolster immune
functions, improve detoxification
processes, is directly toxic to tumor cells therefore
helping to potentially shrink them.
The next area
of bolstering the immune functions becomes
very involved, centering on the natural killer cell
activity and the macrophage.
The following are
nutrients and herbs that have shown to be effective:
·
Beta-glucans
are basically a type of sugar molecule that
work with receptors on
specialized white cells called the
macrophage (big eater). Macrophages are the cells that
start and regulate immune processes. They
initiate intracellular communication by
releasing chemical messengers called cytokines,
which communicate with many other
areas of the immune system and the brain.
One form called beta-1-3-D glucan
is available in capsules or powdered form and is
derived from the cell walls of bakers yeast. Another
area where beta
glucans are prevalent is in
the medicinal mushrooms, shitake,
reishi, and
maitake varieties.
·
Ara-6 (arabinogalactans)
is a substance extracted from the larch tree
that has the ability to activate the natural
killer cell. The killer cells are what
attack cancer cells and destroy them. They secrete
potent chemical called interferons
and interleukins. Ara-6 has been shown to
increase the activity of NK cells. It also
helps to stimulate macrophage activity. The trade name
is called Larix.
·
There are other herbals that
can be used concurrently like Echinacea,
astragalus, goldenseal, and
suma.
In working with
substances as biological response modifiers, there are
many areas of research. The main area I want to address
is protecting the liver throughout the cancer
process.
When dealing
with chemotherapy and radiation, the
liver becomes an overtaxed organ. This
becomes a critical issue for the survival
of the person. There are two
supplements that are recommended,
milk thistle extract, and NAC (N-acetyl
cysteine).
·
Milk thistle seed extract
has shown to protect the liver cells
and to aid in the production of a detoxifying
agent produced in the liver called
glutathione. It has no
toxicity and does not appear to be
contraindicated with chemotherapy. Doses
are usually high, 400-600 mg of active
silymarin daily.
·
NAC (N-Acetyl
Cysteine) is
a sulphur bond amino
acid that aids the increased
production of glutatione
levels. GSH is a potent anti-carcinogen and an
important antioxidant.
Click for
PART One
NUTRITION AND ITS IMPORTANCE
IN
CANCER THERAPY
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